147: Before the Storm

As the black sedan drove away from the Tianshu Building, Lin Mo looked back through the car window at the towering structure that pierced the clouds. The setting sun dyed the glass curtain wall an amber color, making the entire building resemble a giant golden crystal.

Three black sedans sped along the highway leading to the airport, the scenery outside the windows rapidly receding. Lin Mo sat in the back seat of the middle vehicle, his fingers constantly caressing the yellow jade given to him by Topaz.

The surface of the jade emitted a strange luster, as if it were alive and slightly warm.

"This completely violates the laws of thermodynamics!" Academician Zhang's voice came from the front, as he excitedly waved a tablet computer, "Where did the energy for that small tornado come from? And where did the heat from burning paper go?"

"Old Zhang, are you still fixated on these things?" Academician Hu took off his glasses and wiped them, "The important thing is, this power truly exists! Think about it, if we could grasp its principles..."

General Li suddenly interjected: "Military application is the top priority. If the New United Federation masters this power first..."

"Director Lin, what do you think?" Academician Zhang's voice pulled him back to reality, "These path theories..."

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Lin Mo said calmly, caressing the yellow jade in his hand. "Organize today's observations into a report. I need to meet the Premier immediately."

He tapped on his tablet, and the homepage of the Interstellar Peace Corporation's official website prominently displayed a "Statement on path Phenomena."

The announcement reiterated Topaz's explanation in concise language, but most striking was a video at the bottom, showing the complete footage of Director Shajin unfurling a black and gold roulette wheel above the ruins.

"My goodness..." Academician Zhang gasped, "The views have already exceeded a billion."

Lin Mo scrolled the screen; the #Pathstrider# topic on social media had exploded. The top five trending topics in the Eastern Federation were all related:

#Interstellar Peace Corporation Confirms Existence of Superpowers#

#Director Shajin Is a Confirmed Deity#

#Ancient Eastern Federation Cultivation Legends Might Be True#

#How to Become a Pathstrider#

#Who Is the Amber King#

"They've gone mad, completely mad," General Li shook his head. "There are already civilian organizations in Europa calling themselves 'Preservation Believers,' protesting in the streets and demanding the Corporation reveal the cultivation methods."

Lin Mo did not respond. His gaze fell on the last trending topic, that name piercing his eyes like a needle.

Amber King.

He recalled Topaz's meaningful shushing gesture once more.

The car radio was broadcasting urgent news:

"The Interstellar Peace Corporation has just released a statement, confirming that 'path' is a real cosmic phenomenon..."

"Multiple countries worldwide have convened emergency security meetings..."

"Spontaneous 'path research groups' have emerged among the populace..."

Lin Mo turned off the radio and suddenly noticed an encrypted message on his phone. The sender displayed as "Unknown Number," and the content was just a few simple words: "The less you know, the sounder you sleep."

Being able to easily and silently infiltrate his encrypted phone, he didn't need to think twice to know who was behind it. Especially that wolf-head-like symbol at the end of the message—it was too obvious.

He put away his phone with a wry smile, his gaze once again falling on the yellow jade. Light seemed to flow within the jade, like an eye watching him.

At the same time, in the top-floor office of the Tianshu Building, Topaz stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the departing motorcade.

"Did they believe it?" Aventurine's lazy voice came from behind her.

Topaz didn't turn around: "Whether they believe it or not isn't important; what's important is that they saw the truth." She suddenly released her arm, and Numby dropped vertically, running to Aventurine's side to try and bite Aventurine's gold watch.

Aventurine grabbed Numby, walked to her side, his golden hair shimmering in the sunset: "What about the Chairman?"

"Quite pleased, Bronya let it slip," Topaz said softly, her gaze fixed on the distant skyline. "After all, this is also part of 'Preservation,' isn't it?"

Outside the window, the last ray of sunlight disappeared below the horizon, and the lights of Guixu City lit up one after another, like a scattering of stars falling to the mortal realm.

As the motorcade entered the Donglian Capital, the city's atmosphere was noticeably different. On the large screens on both sides of the streets, major television stations were broadcasting urgent news related to the path.

A street interview caught Lin Mo's attention: "I believe this is absolutely alien technology!" a young man excitedly told the microphone, "The Corporation has been hiding the truth!"

"My grandmother told me a long time ago," an old woman tremblingly stated, "those ancient cultivators were all real..."

Most unsettling was the scene in the financial district. Interstellar Peace Corporation concept stocks hit their daily limit across the board, while the military industry sector collectively plummeted. Long queues had already formed in front of several large technology companies, all representatives inquiring about "path technology cooperation."

For many, the truth wasn't important; finding the next big trend was.

"Go directly to the Zijin Pavilion," Lin Mo told the driver. "The Premier is waiting for us."

In the underground bunker of Militech headquarters, Teklite sat alone in front of monitoring screens, his eyes bloodshot.

The screens were split into a dozen views: an emergency meeting of the New Union Congress, street protesters, abnormal deployments of Qilu Corporation security forces, and the green signal emitter locked in a safe.

"Commander..." a timid voice came from the doorway, "Mr. Durand and Mr. Usmanov have sent meeting requests."

"Tell them to get lost!" Teklite grabbed a water cup and hurled it at the wall, glass fragments scattering on the blast wall. "Those traitors! Have they already colluded with those old fossils?"

The young officer's Adam's apple bobbed: "Commander... United Energy's board of directors secretly met with the leader of the Blue Party this morning. According to intelligence, Qilu Corporation's CEO also..."

"I knew it!" Teklite slammed his hand on the table, leaping to his feet, the monitoring screens shaking violently with his movement. "Those parasites we drove out of power, now they want to crawl back in on the wave stirred up by the Corporation?"

He strode quickly towards the safe, his hand trembling with anger as he entered the password. The green signal emitter lay quietly inside, its indicator light flickering ominously.

"Report, Commander!" The communicator suddenly blared, "Congress just passed an emergency bill to re-examine Militech's military contracting qualifications! Qilu Corporation has publicly stated its willingness to 'temporarily take over' our nuclear arsenal!"

Teklite let out a chilling, inhuman laugh.

The monitoring screen switched to the interior of the Congress building, showing those familiar faces—the old-guard politicians he had forcibly removed from power ten years ago—now sitting primly in their seats.

Sitting in the front row were representatives from United Energy and Qilu Corporation.

"How ironic..." He caressed the switch of the emitter, his voice terrifyingly low, "The regime we seized together, and now they've become the 'saviors restoring democratic order'?"

The communicator blared again: "Commander... Mr. Durand just issued a statement, saying your mental state is unstable, and suggesting you... voluntarily resign."

Teklite suddenly burst into laughter, his mirth echoing in the sealed bunker, sending chills down one's spine. He turned to the monitoring screen, where Durand stood in the Militech headquarters lobby, surrounded by a uniform group of old-faction officers.

"See?" Teklite spoke to the empty bunker, as if explaining to an unseen audience, "They planned it all along, they were bribed by the Corporation long ago! First, they use the Corporation's path event to shake my authority, then they unite with those old farts to carve up Militech..."

His finger traced the emitter: "Qilu Corporation wants our military technology, United Energy wants energy technology, those politicians want to regain control of the military, and restless executives want to seize power... What a perfect plan for dividing the spoils."

The monitoring screen suddenly switched to city streets, where protesters were burning Militech flags. Banners read "End Warlord Rule" and "Return Power to the People," and leading them were several mayors who had been ousted two years prior.

"How ridiculous..." Teklite's voice suddenly became calm. "They think they can take everything I gained with blood, just with this?"

He slowly placed his finger on the emitter's activation button, a mad glint in his eyes: "Then let all of Europa... be buried with my empire."

At the same time, in the conference room of the Eastern Federation's Zijin Pavilion, the air was so heavy it could almost be wrung out.

The Premier sat at the head of the long table, flanked by high-ranking military officials and academicians from the Academy of Sciences. Lin Mo stood in front of the projection screen, reporting the details of the meeting.

"...In summary, the Interstellar Peace Corporation confirms that the 'path' phenomenon is real." Lin Mo clicked the remote, playing footage of Topaz demonstrating the small tornado. "This is a path ability demonstrated live by Director Topaz of the Strategic Investment Department."

The conference room erupted in an uproar. The Minister of Defense suddenly stood up: "This is tantamount to declaring they possess supernatural military force! We must immediately—"

"Calm down, Old Zhao." The Premier raised a hand, motioning for him to sit. "Director Lin, you've dealt with the Corporation the longest. In your opinion, what are their true intentions?"

Lin Mo took a deep breath. He hesitated for a moment, but decided to omit his speculation about the "Amber King": "According to Topaz, the Corporation is merely following the path of 'Preservation.' But the specific meaning..."

His words were interrupted by a sudden alarm. Red lights began to flash in the conference room, and the Deputy Minister of Security rushed in: "Premier! Emergency in Europa!"

The main screen automatically switched to a satellite view. On the map of Europa, dozens of red dots lit up simultaneously.

"Nuclear missile launch alert?" The Minister of Defense's face turned pale. "This is impossible! Has Militech gone mad?"

"No, after the Corporation incident, how could they have launch capability?"

The screen quickly zoomed in, showing that these red dots were military bases and important geographical locations across Europa.

"Hundreds of tactical nuclear missiles... and this location..." Zhou Zhenguo's voice trembled, "It's the Green Light Project! That urban legend from the last century! It's actually real! They really implemented the Green Light Project!"